Catalog

Catalogs

Title	Duration (hours)	Description
Growth and Development of Infants and Toddlers (CDA 1)	2.00	A family child care early learning program that supports the growth and development of infants and toddlers needs nurturing caregivers, a healthy and safe environment, good relationships between family and caregiver, and appropriate activities to offer good quality care. This takes planning and knowledge of the growth and development of infants and toddlers. Find ways to enhance your family child care environment and build quality relationships with the infants and toddlers in your care. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 1, Planning a Safe and Healthy Environment. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event, or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
Coping with Food Allergies in Child Care Spaces (CDA 1)	2.00	A food allergy is a reaction within the body's immune system. It can be anywhere from mild to severe, and in some cases, it may be life-threatening. We must understand the symptoms and triggers of food allergies, the ways to prevent accidental exposure to prohibited foods, how to care for a child experiencing symptoms. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 1: Planning a Safe, Healthy Environment to Invite Learning. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event, or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
Growth and Development of Preschoolers in Family Child Care (CDA 1)	2.00	A supportive and healthy environment is key to promoting the growth and development of preschoolers. In this course, you will identify appropriate health and safety practices, examine how to develop developmentally appropriate activities, and explore how equipment and materials can help stimulate learning. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 1: Planning a Safe, Healthy Environment to Invite Learning. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event, or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
Infectious Diseases in Early Childhood (CDA 1)	3.00	An infectious disease is an illness that is caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Many of these organisms live in or on our bodies, and are normally harmless. But under certain circumstances, they can cause disease. This course is also designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers Subject Area 1: Planning a Safe, Healthy Environment to Invite Learning.
Cultural Competency for Children and Families (CDA 4)	2.00	As classrooms and communities reflect our increasingly interconnected world, cultural understanding becomes essential for educators. This course equips you with the knowledge and tools to navigate the spectrum of cultural awareness, sensitivity, responsiveness, and competence. Together, we'll explore impactful practices for fostering inclusive environments and culturally competent approaches that empower children and families.
Coping with Crying (CDA 1 & 3)	2.00	Babies cry to communicate. In fact, sometimes it's the only way babies can communicate. Coping with crying can be a challenge, especially for people who have little or no experience care for infants. Learning to cope with crying is critical, as infant crying is the number one trigger for shaking a baby. In this course, we will learn about Shaken Baby Syndrome, and about ways to cope with a crying infant. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 1, Planning a Safe and Healthy Environment and CDA Subject Area 3: Supporting Children's Social and Emotional Development. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event, or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
SIDS and Safe Sleep (CDA 1)	2.00	Based on national standards representing the best evidence, expertise, and experience on health and safety policies and practices, and, focused on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ best practice recommendations, this course provides information on reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) and for promoting safe sleep in infant care settings. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 1: Planning a Safe, Healthy Environment to Invite Learning. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event, or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
Foundation for School Success (CDA 6)	2.00	Beyond simply academic skills, "school readiness" encompasses the holistic development of young children, encompassing social, emotional, physical, and cognitive domains. This course empowers early childhood professionals to support this development from infancy through preschool, laying a strong foundation for future success in kindergarten and beyond.
Brain Development in Infants and Toddlers (CDA 8)	2.00	Brain development has changed over the last 20 years. Early brain development focused mainly on the intellectual aspects of the brain, but over the last 10 years, more focus has been placed on the social emotional exchanges in infancy and how that affects brain development. Early experiences predispose how children see the world. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum and covers CDA Subject Area 8, Understanding Principles of Child Development and Learning. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
Individualized Care and Routines (CDA 4 & 5)	2.00	Caregiving routines provide us with opportunities to build close, personal relationships with each of the children we care for. When carried out responsively and without haste, these routines also create learning opportunities. To support a child's need for consistency and predictability, the routines we carry out should reflect families' caregiving practices at home.This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject area 4: Strategies to establish productive relationships with families, as well as area 5: Strategies to Manage Effective Program Operation. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
Respecting the Child's Perspective (CDA 3 & 4)	2.00	Children and adults see the world very differently, and understanding child development helps you gain valuable insight through a child’s eyes. In this course, you will look at common situations and the ways children and adults may see them, taking into consideration what is developmentally appropriate for the children involved to find solutions that work for the children in care. This course is also designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 3: Supporting Children's Social and Emotional Development, Subject Area 4: Strategies to Establish Productive Relationships with Families.
Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) (CDA 3)	2.00	Children who are exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) face an increased risk for social-emotional, physical, and mental health issues. ACEs include abuse, neglect, parental separation or divorce, and other traumatic experiences before the age of eighteen. This course explores the awareness of trauma in young children and families and discusses the role of the early care and education professional in nurturing resilience. This course will help you to better understand ACEs and trauma.
Reduce the Spread of Germs in Child Care Programs (CDA 1)	2.00	Colds, stomach viruses, and ear infections top the list of common illnesses for young children. Young children in child care centers and homes tend to get these common illnesses more frequently than young children who are not in group care. In many child care settings, illness moves quickly from one child to another. This course examines how to reduce the spread of germs in child care programs and establish ways to keep young children and the adults who care for them healthy. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 1: Planning a Safe, Healthy Environment to Invite Learning. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event, or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
Developing Your Professional Philosophy Statement (CDA 6)	2.00	Crafting a professional philosophy statement offers you a powerful avenue to express your core beliefs and values in early childhood education, teaching, and learning. This valuable tool can serve you throughout your career, from job applications to pursuing certifications like the CDA (Child Development Associate) Credential or academic positions. Additionally, it acts as a personal compass, reaffirming the significant roles and responsibilities you wish to fulfill as an educator.
Developing High Quality Inclusion Practices (CDA 8)	2.00	Creating high-quality inclusive programs empowers children with disabilities to learn and thrive alongside their typically developing peers. However, knowledge and skill gaps often hinder educators in implementing effective inclusion practices. This session dives into the essence of inclusion in early childhood settings, fostering awareness and equipping you to start the inclusion conversation. Explore the core principles and best practices to cultivate truly inclusive learning environments for all children.
Building Foundations for Language and Literacy Development (CDA 8)	2.00	Did you know infants are language-learning powerhouses? Their brains are primed to soak up any language. But to unlock their speaking potential, they need your voice! This session empowers you to discover playful ways to nurture language and literacy skills in infants and toddlers. Together, we'll assess current practices and identify opportunities to strengthen the foundation for a lifelong love of language and learning.
Positive Guidance Toward Problem-Solving (CDA 3)	2.00	Early interactions in infancy and toddlerhood often involve exploring boundaries through behaviors like grabbing toys, pulling hair, or biting. This course delves into the reasons behind these behaviors and equips professionals with positive guidance strategies to help children learn conflict resolution without resorting to harm. Through self-assessment tools, you can evaluate your current practices and identify areas for improvement, ultimately enhancing the quality of care for infants and toddlers in your setting.
Children's Temperament: A Practical Approach to Meeting Individual Needs (CDA 3)	2.00	Every child comes into this world as a unique individual, with unique ways of responding to the world in the expression of their emotions and actions. This is called temperament. Being able to recognize and understand differences in temperament differences is crucial for nurturing a child's social emotional health. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 3: Supporting Children's Social and Emotional Development. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event, or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
Prompting Executive Function Skills (CDA 2)	2.00	Executive function, a powerhouse of cognitive skills like planning, decision-making, and self-control, plays a critical role in learning and future academic success. Research highlights the vital role of early childhood teachers in nurturing these skills. The key? Intentional, complex play. Think dramatic play, collaborative games, and open-ended activities – these become the stage for practicing and mastering these essential skills, setting children on a path to lifelong learning success.
Family-Teacher Relationships (CDA 4)	2.00	How do you view the families of the children in your classroom? If you were to generate a list of words to describe families, what kinds of positive and negative feelings would they convey? When we see ourselves as partners with the families we serve, the quality of care and nurturing children receive is greatly enhanced. Establishing such partnerships and building relationships is our responsibility. Communication strategies, such as practicing active listening, are key to this process. In this course, participants will describe the importance and benefits of establishing meaningful relationships with families and identify strategies for establishing meaningful relationships. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 4: Strategies to Establish Productive Relationships with Families. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event, or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
ADHD (CDA 8)	2.00	In a 2015 survey, one half of children in preschool were on medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). People with ADHD tend to be visionaries, dreamers, explorers, inventors, and trend setters. In this course, we will explore ADHD as a disorder that can negatively affect a child’s life, and as a trait that may be beneficial in helping a child grow into a successful adult. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum and covers CDA Subject Area 8, Understanding Principles of Child Development and Learning. This course can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
21st Century Skills in Early Childhood (CDA 2, 3, and 8)	2.00	In this course, you will identify skills considered to be essential for success in the 21st century and examine the critical connection between these skills and academic learning. You will also explore how two Key Learning Areas from Learning Standards for Early Childhood - Social and Emotional Development and Approaches to Learning through Play - can help you promote the development of 21st Century Skills in the children with whom you work. This course is also designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers Subject Area 2: Advancing Children’s Physical and Intellectual Development, Subject Area 3: Supporting Children’s Social and Emotional Development and Subject Area 8: Understanding Principles of Child Development and Learning.
Creating a Supportive Classroom Community (CDA 3)	2.00	Learn ways to bring out nurturing, caring behaviors in children and youth to create a classroom community where children and youth support each other. Learn how to use non-competitive games to foster acceptance of all children and youth. Identify the strengths and weaknesses for both you and the children and youth in your program, and how to put the strengths to good use creating a sense of acceptance and community. This course is designed to be part of a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ curriculum. It covers CDA Subject Area 3: Supporting Children's Social and Emotional Development and may also be taken as a stand-alone learning event or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
Developing Methods of Observation (CDA 7)	2.00	Learning child observation skills can be a powerful tool for solving some of the most difficult problems faced by child care providers. Concerned about a child’s behavior? Want to know how to plan successful activities? Observation skills can help. Learn more about each child and his/her development using the methods of observation in this course. This course provides examples of good observation techniques and demonstrates skills necessary for useful observations. It covers CDA subject area 7: Observation and Assessment, and can also be taken as a stand-alone learning event or as part of a broader early childhood education curriculum.
Assessing and Implementing a Safe Child Care Environment (CDA 1 & 5)	2.00	Little explorers have big ambitions! As infants and toddlers embark on their journey of discovery, their safety becomes your top priority. This course equips you with the knowledge and tools to proactively create safe and stimulating environments. Learn to assess play spaces, evaluate activities, and refine existing practices, fostering a nurturing atmosphere where exploration and safety flourish hand-in-hand.